Vapor motor



Oct. 11, 1932. M. PERSONS VAPOR MOTOR Filed Nov. 23, 1928 faves 73% 07"-Zaurazce JZPewmzfi fltzfore 16,,

Patented ct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES LAURENCE M. PERSONS, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS VAPOR Moron Application filed November 23, 1928. Serial No.321,441.

My invention relates to improvements in electrically or other heatedvapor motors such as are used for operation of switches and the likeresponsive to temperature, pressure or other conditions. It has for oneobject to provide in connection with the conventional type ofelectrically heated vapor motor means whereby increase in pressure inthe working cylinder itself may serve to limit or control the heat sothat while keeping the heat on constantly during the time that the vaporis expanded, it is possible to reduce the total quantity of heat duringa portion of the period, thus permitting the use of a relatively largestarting heat effect and a relatively small subsequent heat effect asdistinguished from the use of a fixed heat during operation smaller thanthe starting heat but less than the continuing heat thereby givingquicker action with less total consumption of power. Other objects of myinvention will appear from time to time @hroughout the specificationandclaim.

My invention is illustrated more or'less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic section througha vapor motor embodying my invention;

f Figure 2 is a section through a modified orm;

Figure 3 is an elevation of a form wherein the heat is applied by meansother than electric means.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout.

A is a rigid cylindrical housing. Contained therein and extendingupwardly from the lower edge thereof is a flexible metallic bellows Aterminating in a rigid plate A. A is a connecting rod pivoted on theplate A extending downwardly generally along the axial line of the bllows and pivoted on a lever A, by which a switch or other suitablemechanism may be operated. Extending outwardly from the wall of thehousing A is a pipe A Extending upwardly from this'pipe is a heatingtube A". This tube is preferably of steel, is thin and is necked down atA where it joins the pipe A so as to present a minimum area for theconducwhen it is desired to operate the lever A.

tion of heat from the tube JAG to the pipe A and thence to thecylinder'A.

1 B is a flexible diaphragm closing the upper end of the cylinder A.Projecting upwardly from the cylinder and out of contact with thediaphragm is a supporting bracket B B is a carbon pile mounted in thebracket B between the fixed abutment B and a moving abutment B. Thismoving abutment is carried by a yoke B which extends downwardly toengage the diaphragm B. A spring 13 presses downwardly on the diaphragmbeing engaged on its upper end on the underside of the abutment B.

C is an electric heating coil surrounding the tube A. The conductor Cextends out from the coil at one end to any suitable source of power.The conductor C extends from the other end of the coil through theabutment B to the carbon pile. A conductor C extends from the carbonpile to the suitable source of power C, there being in the circuitmeans, such-as the switch C and its operating mechanism C for openingand closing it Variation in the pressure on the carbon pile B changesthe resistance interposed thereby in the circuit. The spring B pressingdownwardly on the diaphragm exerts a maximum pressure on the carbon pileso as to give a minimum resistance. When the circuit is closed theheating coil C is energized, the alcohol in the tube A which fills thetube and the space between the bellows A the cylinder A and thediaphragm B is heated, is va- "porized and is forced downwardly "into aposition indicated at X at the bottom of the tube A,thus exerting apressure on the bellows causing operation of the lever. As soon as thepressure causedby this vaporization and expansion of the alcohol reachesa cer-. tain predetermined point, the diaphragm B is forced upcompressing the spring B and reducing the pressure on the carbon pile,therebyinterposing a resistance in the line and decreasing the heatgenerated by the coil C. The coil C remains heated. The vapor in thetube A remains heated and because the vapor has caused the alcohol to beforced down out of contact with the heated part of the system.

. position of the valve so as the tube, the bellows remains in theexpanded position as long as current passes through The reduction in theheat caused by the decrease in pressure on the carbon pile beingsuflicient to prevent overheating and other expansion of the liquid.Since this makes possible the use of relatively high current and highheat efleot until the carbon pile resistance is interposed very quickaction of the motor results. is on all the time no fluttering actionoccurs as would be the case were the flexible diaphragm set to operate amake and break switch. i Q

In the modified form shown in Figure 2 it will be noted that thepressure on the carbon pile instead of being directly controlled bymovement of a separate diaphragm is controlled by a downward extensionof the link A which exerts a pressure in opposition to the spring D,which spring normally exerts a pressure on the carbon pile D to compressthe pile and reduce the resistance.

In the modified form shown in Figure 3 the tube A is heated by a steamcoil E controlled by a valve E which valve E is electrically controlledby-means of a solenoid E spring E the solenoid E being energized bymeans of current passing through the carbon pile so that the resistancein the circuit changes the to control the rate of steam flowing throughthe heating coil. Otherwise the operation is identical.

I claim:

In a vapor motor, a closed and gas-tight liquid filled system includinga worklng hamber having wall portions movable in response to pressurechanges within the system, a heating chamber in connection with theworking chamber and externally positioned resistance means forcontinuously heating the heating chamber and thereby effecting changesin the pressure within the system, a work performing member and anoperative connection between it and one movable wall portion of theworking chamber, an actuating circuit for the resistance heating meansand means, responsive to movement of the other movable wall portion ofthe working chamber, for varying the flow of current through saidcircuit. I

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 17th dayof November,

LAURENCE M. PERSONS.

But since the heat.

